Masses of maginficant monk make Monday's moonlit market.

 Tomorrow morning's moon will he the first full eclipse coinciding with the winter solstice marking the shortest day, or longest night, since 1638.......

 after BBC1's Saturday Kitchen saw Nathan Outlaw use monk for a Christmas dish with a difference, these quality monk tails will make good money on the final week of 2010.......

 which should give the big beamer fleet like the Cornishman grossings just short of £1 million pounds for the year.......

 auctioneer Ian does his best to get the buyers to pay top price for the 40 tons of fish from seven boats on the market......

 of which a bumper harvest of black gold, 37 400 kilo tubs ready for the sale.......

 these big tub gurnards would make any fishmonger's display look very seasonal.......

 while the brill will be a favourite restaurant dish.......

 time is of the essence........

 as the last few days of market trading are marked off on the calendar......

 and there's yet more monk on offer.......

 the crabbing fleet are affected by a lack-lustre price for brown crab, normally a welcome boost to earnings at this time of year.......

 for those in need of more spiritual entertainment there are plenty of concerts taking place around Newlyn and beyond......

 with everyone doing their bit for the harbour lights......

 as the sun creeps into the sky......

 Santa's grottos has been deserted after a very successful evening in the Mission on Friday night......

 the gulls seem to be heading off in search of breakfast at sea for a change......

 even the harbour offices are glowing.......

 along with the cafe........

with those lucky enough to escape the snow 'up country', may choosing to arrive by train take the strain off the road.

"Falmouth Coastguard, Falmouth Coastguard, Falmouth Coastguard............this is FV Harvest Dawn, over"........

"You have reached Falmouth Coastguard - I'm sorry, we are closed between the hours of 5.30pm and 8.00 am. If you would like to log a TR press 1, if you need the latest weather press 2, if you have a Pan message press 3, for a Mayday press 4, .......for any other enquiries you could try Dover, Aberdeen or the Solent."

For more info try the BBC.

Harbour Lights night tonight!

Head down to Newlyn for a 7.30pm start to an evening of carols, choirs and mince pies to celebrate switching on of the lights - this year surf dog Bilbo will be there to greet the kids as owner Steve does the deed and throws the big switch - with a huge firework display to follow!

Orange tallies - trend-setting?

 A streal of blue as the Sea Spray makes her way back to her berth.......

 final quality check for the Ocean Spray's shot of wreck fish......

 Falf Fish couldn't resist the ray......

 aboard the latest addition to the Newlyn fleet, the St Adrianne ray are now winged at sea.......

 the boggle-eyed ling is not the prettiest fish.......

 all I want for Christmas is a junior fish ageing kit........

the future's bright it seems for the Alice Louise!

Jim seems happy enough!

Jim Portus, representing the South West Fish Producer's Organisation seems pleased with the results of Richard Benyon's efforts in Brussels, has said that altogether the deal is one that gives cause to celebrate.

“Twenty-four hours ago the Minister and his team were not optimistic, yet they have secured the best possible outcome for Channel and West trawlermen.

The same sentiments are echoed aboard the beamer fleet in the Devon port of Brixham it seems.

"Of course, you must note that I am speaking only for SWFPO members and fishermen whose area of operation is the English and Bristol Channels. Other fishermen in other sea areas may tell a different tale and some will bemoan the results for their fisheries and catch opportunities.


"I do think, however, that in all sea areas the results of this Council of Fisheries Ministers are the best that the Minister and his team could have achieved given the seemingly impossible task he was presented with just 48 hours ago!”

Reactions from the Newlyn where the majority of vessels are members of the CFPo are not yet forthcoming.

Bugaled Breizh - the story that won't lie down.

A French navy whistleblower has sparked renewed claims that a British submarine caused the deaths of five Breton fishermen in 2004.

The anonymous witness, believed to be a retired submarine officer, points the finger at the Devonport-based submarine HMS Turbulent.

Copy and paste the text from this page into Google's translation page and you'll get a more complete story from the French press here.

A short animation created by Michel-Leconte illustrates the possibility of submarine involvement in the loss of the Bugaled Breizh.

The White Ships - Portuguese cod fishing 1966 aboard the Santa Maria Manuela.

Life In The Seas

Á Vida Nos Mares

aboard the Santa Maria Manuela
1966 Cod Fishing Campaign


Video courtesy of Patricio Family's web site.

Here's a superb short film guaranteed to stir a few memories in those lucky enough to witness the last of the cod fishing sailing schooners that worked the Grand Banks.

After introductory shots of the boat setting sail, the film then moves ashore in Portugal, the land with a history of 500 years of fish trade within the cod-laden waters off Newfoundland as it became known. Soon the camera is back aboard one of the few remaining sailing schooners still working a fleet of tiny single handed dorys where the men worked handlines for cod - and the risks they took fishing away from the 'mother ship' in fickle weather that could give rise to sudden gales or, worse still, dense freezing fog. Despite being the 1960s, this is still an era when men worked with hemp, canvas and oilskins - "wooden ships, iron men".

For the bigger picture, and if you haven't already done so , get a copy of the book, "Cod, the biography of the fish that changed the world."

There's a link here to a book by that most famous teller of sea tales aboard sailing vessels experienced at first hand - Allan Villiers.